Candidate Q&A: Tim Perry — City Commission of Arkansas City

Position you are running for: I’m running for city council in the Ark City area.

Family members (e.g. spouse, children, grandchildren): N/a

How long have you lived in Arkansas City?

I have lived in Ark City for 18 years and this isn’t the first time I ran for office.

Have you served on any boards previously?

No, I haven’t served on any boards in Ark City.

Why did you choose to run for this position?

I choose to run for this city council is because I wanted to see how government was run from the inside.

South Central Kansas Medical Center (SCKMC) currently owes around $2 million to the City of Arkansas City in loan repayment, plus continued special assessment payments. SCKMC has promised to start repaying the city by the beginning of 2018. What steps, if any, do you think should be taken to address this issue? In general, what does the city need to do to ensure continued financial stability for SCKMC? Do you think significantly reorganizing and/or selling SCKMC should occur, and if so, why?

I think the city should be able to continue to support the hospital. Every city needs a hospital infrastructure, including our city. I think the hospital and city should continue to work together in the future and not sell it.

The City of Arkansas City in 2018 will provide $75,000 to Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, $45,000 to Cowley First, $30,000 to the Cowley County Humane Society, $17,200 to the City-Cowley County Health Department and $10,000 to the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce. Do you think any of these amounts should be increased, decreased or eliminated in future years, and if so, why?

It’s a matter of looking at the budgets of the Land Strip, CCHS, CCCHD, ACACC and seeing whats needs to be trimmed from the budget.

The 2018 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) outlines a $4 million reconstruction project for North Summit Street from Kansas Avenue to Radio Lane. This project would impact many businesses and likely need to be paid for by issuing some debt. What is your opinion of this proposal, and why?

I like the capital improvement plan. As a city, we need to improve on our infrastructure, but not at taxpayers expense.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) have indicated substantial upgrades need to be made to the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), which is more than 50 years old. A $22.25 million project is proposed over the next two years. There is cash to cover the first phase, but the second phase would require a loan similar to the one KDHE issued for the new Water Treatment Facility. Some parts of the current WWTP can be upgraded and reused. What is your opinion of this project, and why?

n/a

The CIP includes $500,000 annually for continued water line replacement, as well as $1.75 million in 2019 for a new water tower and redundant water line to serve Arkansas City east of the Walnut River. How much priority should these projects, as well as ongoing well rehabilitation efforts, be given in future city budgets? Should more or less money be spent on new water lines?

n/a

The Wilson Park Master Plan has received a lot of coverage this year. Currently, the plan is to use very little city funds for this project, with the majority of the cost being paid for by private donors. Do you think the city should allocate public money to make this plan become a reality? How many years do you think it should take to complete the entire master plan improvements?

The Wilson Park master plan is a good project for the city, and the city should allocate funds to make this plan a reality.

The City of Arkansas City plans to transition to four-day sanitation and start a pilot curbside recycling program east of the Walnut River later this year or early next year. Would you like to see a full-blown curbside recycling program throughout the city, and if so, should it be mandatory? Alternatively, should sanitation be privatized, and if so, why?

The city should keep running the same system they already have in place so it can maintain its infrastructure.

The City of Arkansas City plans to spend $100,000 a year for the next 10 years to tear down dangerous structures. Do you think this is too much or too little money, or should the city stop tearing down dangerous structures entirely?

A $100,000 isn’t enough to tear down dangerous and dilapidated structures. The budget should get another $25,000 to make sure it gets all the dilapidated structure thoughout the city.

City staff have indicated the need to find a new dedicated funding stream for streets to be able to do any major projects in the future, beyond very basic maintenance. A street sales tax is unlikely as long as 1.5% of the current sales tax goes to SCKMC. What do you think the City of Arkansas City should do to address this?

(no answer submitted)

A $50,000 master plan study of Paris Park, Paris Park Pool, the Agri-Business Building and surrounding facilities is planned in 2018. In particular, the pool and the Ag Building need a lot of investment into deferred maintenance. What is your vision for that area? (Please be specific.)

I would like to see the Agri Building get a makeover. All the structure on the inside is dilapidated.

For example, the bathrooms only have one stall to accommodate 300 men and women. This isn’t sanitary. I want to see a new Agri Building with full event staff coming soon.

There is a plan to complete the hike-bike trail loop in the next couple of years. What kinds of alternative transportation options (bike lanes, new sidewalks and crosswalks, hike-bike extensions, etc.) do you want to see in the future, if any, as part of a 10- or 20-year Complete Streets Plan?

I like the hike and bike extensions if people actually use them, but we need new sidewalks to keep all foot traffic on the sidewalk.

How important is brick rehabilitation to you? How much money do you think the City of Arkansas City should spend on it? Should the city just focus on the downtown area and pave over residential streets, or address bricks equally throughout the entire community?

The city is moving into the future. We need streets, not dirt or brick roads. Let’s take care of our city. Let’s take care of our infrastructure.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you or why you are seeking this position?

I seeking this position is because I want to see what it is like to run a city from the inside gaining experience and knowledge.

This information was provided by Tim Perry, candidate for the City Commission of Arkansas City.

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Ark City Daily Bytes is a multimedia news service geared toward residents of the Arkansas City, Kansas, area. Daily Bytes seeks to reach readers of all generations with multimedia content that engages them, whether in print or online.